Forty years later, in 1805, she was Horatio Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, a battle which gave the Royal Navy undisputed mastery of the world's oceans for more than a century. The work of naval architect and genius Sir Thomas Slade, Victory was always intended to be a flagship the Royal Navy preferred the smaller 74s as battleships.
This is important in a warship that is intended to form the centrepiece of any squadron and act as an admiral's flagship.Ĭompleted in 1765, Victory is probably the most famous first rate in history, and the only one still in existence. Good sailing qualities, however, are secondary to the weight of broadside that she can both deliver and withstand. Like all first rates, Victory is not a handy ship, being both slow and unresponsive. HMS Victory is a first rate ship of the line, carrying some 100 guns and a crew of more than 800 men.
